Legislature(2009 - 2010)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/10/2010 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearings | |
| SB46 | |
| SB172 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 46 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 172 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 46-CHILD SUPPORT AWARDS
CHAIR DAVIS announced consideration of SB 46. It was heard
previously.
2:11:08 PM
SENATOR ALBERT KOOKESH, sponsor of SB 46, said the changes that
he agreed to during the previous hearing were placed in the
proposed committee substitute (CS) and copies have been
distributed to the members.
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to adopt the work draft committee CS for
SB 46, labeled 26-LS0279\P, as the working document. There being
no objection, version P was before the committee.
2:13:11 PM
DOROTHY SHOCKLEY, staff to Senator Kookesh, explained the
following changes: [Unless otherwise stipulated, the page and
line references relate to version S.]
· Page 5, line 13: Delete $100,000 and insert $105,000.
· Page 6, line 21: Following "or other means." insert the
sentence "A court shall find that health insurance is
available only if a dependent child has reasonable
geographic access to the covered services or the insurance
includes the coverage of transportation needed for the
services."
· Page 6, lines 21-25: Following "or other means." delete the
language from subsection (a) and insert on line 29 in
subsection (b).
· Page 6, lines 28-31 and page 7, lines 1-8: delete from
subsection (b) and insert in new subsection (c).
· Page 7, line 9: Subsection (c) is renumbered to become
subsection (d) in version P.
· Page 7, lines 20-25 in version P: Insert new subsection (e)
containing the following language:
A court shall find that the cost of cash
medical support or private health insurance
is reasonable under this section if the cost
to the responsible parent does not exceed
five percent of the responsible parent's
gross income. In calculating the percentage
for purposes of health insurance coverage,
the cost is the cost of adding the dependent
child to the existing insurance coverage or
the difference between self-only and family
coverage.
· Page 7, lines 17-18: Subsection (d) in version \S is
rewritten and becomes subsection (f) on page 7, lines 26-31
of version P. It is rewritten as follows:
(f) In this section,
(1) "cash medical support" means
an amount ordered to be paid toward the cost
of health insurance provided by a public
entity or by another parent through
employment or otherwise, or for other
medical costs not covered by insurance;
(2) "health care expenses"
includes medical, dental, vision, and mental
health counseling expenses.
· Page 7, line 24: Following "party's initial pleading"
insert "in superior court".
· Page 8, line 20: Delete "tribunal" and insert "court".
· Page 8, line 27: Following "outstanding support order."
insert "An award may be modified to require cash medical
support regardless of whether insurance is available to
either parent if neither parent has purchased health
insurance."
· Page 8, line 28: Following "insurance payments" insert "or
cash medical support".
· Page 8, line 29: Delete "tribunal" and insert "court".
· Page 10, line 5: Delete "tribunal" and insert "court".
· Page 11, line 18: Delete "NON-APPLICABILITY" and insert
"NONAPPLICABILITY".
2:17:43 PM
SENATOR OLSON joined the committee.
SENATOR KOOKESH said he agrees with the changes that were made
and he'd be grateful if the committee would move the bill.
2:18:51 PM
KEN ALPER, representing himself, said he is a local business
owner testifying in support of SB 46. He and his wife employ 20-
25 employees and they receive on average five to ten child-
support garnishment orders per year. A $1,000 to $1,500 order is
not unusual for an employee who grosses about $1,500 per month,
but it is unusual for an employee to stay on the payroll once
the child support garnishment goes into effect. They typically
move on to stay ahead of the order and that's part of the
problem that the sponsor is trying to reconcile. He said he
respects the need to care for these children, but when the state
takes so much from low-wage employees it reduces their stability
and opportunity to advance themselves.
2:21:16 PM
SENATOR PASKVAN asked what the statute would do that the court
rule isn't currently doing.
MR. ALPER replied it's his understanding that the 40 percent
number would be reduced to a smaller maximum percentage. It
would vary depending on the number of children.
SENATOR PASKVAN said he'd like the administration to answer that
question because that's not his understanding.
STACEY STEINBERG, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Collections
and Support Section, Civil Division, Department of Law (DOL),
stated that as currently proposed, SB 46 will not address how
much is taken out of an employee's paycheck when he/she owes
child support.
MS. SCHOCKLEY added that once the court rule is in statute, it
will be easier to make changes and the people who are affected
will have better access.
CHAIR DAVIS closed public testimony.
2:25:40 PM
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report CS for SB 46, labeled 26-
LS0279\P, from committee with individual recommendations and
accompanying zero fiscal note(s). There being no objection CSSB
46(HSS) moved from the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee.
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